Automatic top-lift grading and distributing machine



Dec. 4, 1928;

L. A COGSWELL AUTOMA TIC TOP LIFT GRADING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE I, 1m m 77M NM Mr M w Filed Aug. 20, 1921 Dec. 4, 1928.

L. A. COGSWELL AUTOMATIC TOP LIFT GRADINGAND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE FiledAug. 20, 1921 -5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Sheets-,Shee

Dec. 4, H928.

L. A. COGSWELL AUTOMATIC TOP LIFT GRADING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE FiledAug. 20. 1921 Dec. 4, 11928.

1,693,638 L. A. COGSWELL AUTOMATIC TOP LIFT GRADING AND DISTRIBUTINGMACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 MA- HO Dec. 4, I928.

L. A. COGSWELL AUTOMATIC TOP LIFT GRADING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 20, 1921 Patented Dec, 41-, I928,

srs

' eas es PATENT names,

LEANDER A. COGSWELL, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO LACENEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, TION- OF MAINE.

OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORA- AUTOMATIC Tor-LIFT GRAIJING ANDDISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

I Application filed August 20, 1921; Serial Nv 494 003.

My present invention is an improved and automatic machine for feeling,detecting and distinguishing successive blanks of material of varyingthicknesses, sizes, dimensions or the like, and to sort or distributethe same automatically into corresponding piles,- groups or receptacles.There are two species of grading means (reverting to the terminologyestablished in'this art by the Nichols patents) hereindisclosed andcontained in the more complete embodiment of my invention, viz, skivingto the predetermined thickness measurement and distributing according tothe same predetermined thickness measurement. The machine isparticularly intended for operation upon leather blanks, such forexample as soles, taps, heel lifts and the like, wherein successiveblanks fed into the machine vary in thickness, grade,-or irons and Iprovide automatic mechanism which willsuccessively detect and determinethe particular grade, thickness or iron of the blank and then distributethe blanks, delivering all the blanks of the same thickness into thesame position, pile or receptacle. This feature of the invention is animprovement upon the grading and distributing machine illustrated intheprior patent to Elmer P. Nichols, No.

1,281,639, issued October 15, 1918. Prefer-z 3o ably I combine withthe-feeler and detecting, and sorting and distributing mechanisms, meansto skive or split the leather blank to a predetermined thicknessthroughout its length, this feature constituting'an evening operationsimilar to that illustrated in the wellknown Nichols evening and gradingmachine, to insure the uniform thickness of each. blank distributedftoits predetermined point, pile oi receptacle. In carrying out the presentfeature of the evening or splitting of the blanks, according to thedesired thickness, determined by the detecting mechanism, I prefer toutilize a single bevel knife, such as dated November 14, 1916, thisfeature having special advantages in machines of thisk'ind, as explainedand set forth in said patent.

' Important features of the present invention I is illustrated inNichols-Patent 1,205,104,.

nesses and are frequently liable to be or to become curled or distorted,and the feeding mechanism must have a capacity to separate the blankssuccessively, irrespective of thickness, hardness or softness 'of theleather, and

to handle such blanks with curled up edges andthe like. I providefeeding mechanism wh ch will automatically separate and feed anextremely thin blank from an adjacent thin blank, as .Well as anextremely thick blank from the stack, although the combined thicknessesoftwo of the thinnest blanks, may approximately equal, for example, thatof the thickest blank to be operated upon. These advantages are of greatimportance in a machineof this-kind, since the mechanism must be capableof handling all kinds, grades and qualities of leather before the blanksare skived, straightened or otherwise operated upon.

' A further feature of importance is the automatic distributingmechanism, which operates with greatspeed and yet gives ample time forthe blanks, after they have passed through the skiving mechanism, to besorted and distributed to the different piles or receptacles adapted toreceive each graded blank. 1 In order to obtain the maximum capacity ofthe machine and permit the feeding in mechanism to work speedily, Iarrange the distributing mechanism to operate in such timed relationthat the feeding in action of a I other words the distributing mechanismis set and a blank which has been operated upon is being conducted toits predetermined point or receptacle while a succeeding blank is beingor has been fed into and is traversing the machine, thus giving ampletime for the sorting and distributing action without delaying theautomatic feeding and the working of the machine to its capacity.

1, Various means have been heretofore proposed (and patented) of gradingcut stock, by which is meant operating on blanks in response to theirgaging or detecting as to thickness or usefully perpetuating orutilizing the .in shown how a series of such means may be coupled upsoas to be adjusted or set dissimultaneously and released (or restored tobe reset for the next blank), dissimultaneously either or both, inresponseto one gaging (i. e.,. detecting or feehng) operation. I havepresented the subject in connection with a series of two of such means,viz, skiving and distributing, but it will be understood that I am notlimited to this series or selection of such blank-operating means orgrading means as my invention is broadly new in connection with anyseries and I intend so to claim it. T he object, as to this feature, isto speed up the output of the machine. The invention, in other words,consists in detecting the grade of a succeeding blank and trans mittingits grade to the setting mechanism as soon as the first operating orgrading means has completed or nearly completed its operation on apreceding blank and before the next operating or grading means hasoperated on said preceding blank, thereby enabling a plurality of blanksto be going through the machine simultaneously.

A still further feature of broad novelty and importance, which combineswith the foregoing to facilitate speed, accuracy and general efliciency,is the arrangement for automatically and positively separating, openingor spreading apart the feeding-in rolls just as and while the blank isentering between them. This permits'the use of smooth rolls,

saves injuring the blanks, improves the deli cacy and accuracy ofmeasuring or detecting,

permits higher speed of blank movement,

permits uniformity of operation and absence of shock and materiallyreduces the power required. As soon as the blank has been fed forward tothe desired position betweenthe separated rolls, said rolls areinstantly closed upon the opposite sides of the blank, thereby engagingthe latter with the minimum grip and with no pounding or wedging actionsuch as was invariably the case with the old con struction in which theseparation of the rolls ,was accomplished by forcibly butting the blankendwise against the bite of the contact- 1 ing rolls. To insure quickriding up on the blank end, it was found necessary to employ expensivefluted or corrugated rolls, so that not only were the blanks apt to bebruiscd and bent up at their front ends but they were marred or indentedand damaged by'the corrugations of the rolls. All these disadvan tagesare eliminated by my present invention.

' This feature and the corresponding feature ofpositively opening the bebroadly new and therefore I intend my claims therefor to becorrespondingly construed. i.

In a machine of the present type, wherein these feeding rollsareemployed to gage the ate, I believe to reeacse rectly into thefeeding and gaging rolls, Y

which have also been opened to receive the blank. It will be appreciatedthat, when soft or spongy leather is being operated upon, or otherflexible material, the material itself might be insufiicient to pry orforce open the gate or rolls, thereby becoming wedged,- jammed or thelike and otherwise delaying and interrupting thefeeding in action andthe operation of the machine' I consider that my arrangement ofproviding positive means which will lift and open both the gate and thefeeding rolls, is of great importance, this action being timed tocooperate with the automatic feeding devices as above briefly explained.

While it is feasible to attach marking or indicating devices to themachine-to stamp and mark or permanently impress, or if desired, tovisually indicate, the grades and sizes ofmaterial being operated uponby the machine, yet with the automatic-distributing feature, suchindicating and stamping is entirely unnecessary, becausethe blanks areall sorted and distributed automatically, and delivered into areceptacle. In my present machine I provide means giving a comparativelywide scope or range to the material being operated upon. When leatherblanks,

for example, are being put through the machine, a range of sizes ofseven or eight difits grade determined, the receptacle to which it willbe delivered is likewise predetermined, and therefore all the blanks ofthe same grade are delivered to the same receptacle.- No marking andindicating is therefore requisite and of course no subsequent sorting,piling and distributing is required: In this sorting and delivering Iprefer to. utilize a chute movable to conduct each predetermined blankto its predetermined receptacle, such a chute being movable and set bythe machine when the thicknessof the blank has been determined by thedetecting rolls or other devices and when an evening knife is employed,the blank is necessarily evened or split to the eeaeea predeterminedgage for which the gaging mechanism and chute have also been set by thestock itself. Thus errors are absolutely eliminated and the machine ispositive in its setting and distributing action. As the movable chute isswung with considerable speed when the machine is operating at capacity,I provide means to hold, lock and steady the chute in any position towhich it may have been moved and set, until the blank responsible forsuch setting and moving has been delivered to its receptacle.

As some appreciable time is required for this delivery, I providemechanism which will hold the chute thus fixed, while permitting themechanism operating the chute to determine the distribution of thesucceeding blank to bemoved, only releasing the position to which thechute has been moved for the preceding blank when the succeeding blankhas practically traversed the machine, thereby affording a substantiallylong and ample length of time for the distributing action.

In the preferred embodiment of the machine and as shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein I prefer to utilize a skiving knife,preferably a single bevel knife as above noted, I have alsoeniployedmeans to maintain the blank in a smooth, level or substantiallylevel, and straight horizontal position or condition. As is well knownin the art of-skiving leather, the action of a. skiving knife thereonnecessarily results in curling or tending to curl, distort or disaline,the leather blank. and heretofore this has been oneof the difiicultiesincident to the leather skiving operation. In my present machine .l haveapplied means operating on the leather after the skiving action, andpreferably cooperating therewith to smooth out the blank and prevent itfrom curling or other distortion due to the cutting, skiving andtrimming action. This feature is most important when treating leatherblanks such as soles. taps,

heels, etc, because the stock should be thus delivered from the machinein condition for instant use in the shoe manufacturing processes. Icarry out this feature by applying a pair of rollers in the line oftravel of the stock and in position to act thereon after the skivingaction or simultaneously with the completion of an operation of suchskiving action. These rollsfurthermore serve to smooth. condense andstiffen and strengthen the stock, particularly when soft or spongyleather is employed. v'lthese rolls may (if desired, although notordinarily) be set to act with considerable tension, thus consolidatingthe fiber and texture of the stock while passing therethrough, and thuslevelling, smoothing and ironing out thesame. heated rolls for thispurpose being employed if desired and thus each blank is effectuallysmoothed out,-

condensed, and its wearing qualities improved. Furthermore, actinguponthe leather blank afterskiving, the blank is ready for incorporationin a shoe, instead of being skiving devices, insuring the continuousspeed of feeding and also a positive delivery of the blank tothedistributing chute.

The automatic feeding device has a further provision permitting a .widerangeof adjustvment for the handling of blanks from the,

largest size mens soles, 12, to 14 inches in length, to childrens soles,and even to heel blanks and lifts, three or four inches in length. Inorder to facilitate the operation of the machine on the latter andsimilar types of materials, I have provided novel means whereby therange of adjustment is sufficient to enable one machine to handle allthese varying lengths and for this purpose I have devised meanspermitting the reciprocating feeding member to feed or force the blankinto the first rolls, i. e., the detecting and feeding rolls, back ofthe gate. In order to accomplishthis purpose I have provided.

mechanism permitting the reciprocating member to actually pass throughor beyond the gate in the blank feeding action, to thus positively forcethe smallest heel blank into the feeding grip of the rolls.

Further advantages, novel combinations of parts, important improvements,and constructional features, will be hereinafter more fully pointed outand claimed.

'Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my machine;

Fig. 2 is av side view, partially in cross section;

ill)

Fig. 3 isia longitudinal cross-sectional View on the line 3,3, Fig. 1;

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view on the line l l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front view partly in section on the line.55 of Fig. 1; Fig.6 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross-section taken just back of theratchet plate and looking to the right, of the pawl and ratchetmechanism;

Tis a horizontal fragmentary view illustrating the mechanism foractuating the distributing chute;

Fig. 8 being a detailed view of the rack bar i and sleeve shown in Fig.7;

' Fig. 9 1s a fragmentary plan view of the feed hopper devices;

Fig. 10 being a View, partly in cross-section. on the line 10 10 of Fig.9;

Figs. 11 and 12 are views similar respectively to Figs. 9 and .10 but ofa modified construction Figs. 11. 12 and 13 also show the blank device,Fig. 16 being a central vertical section of a fragmentary portionthereof, Fig. 17

' being a top plan view of the blank engaging reciprocator and Fig. 18being a bot-tom plan view thereof;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary view and side elevation of a port-ion oif thegate opening means; and

Fig. is a fragmentary view in section showing, in side elevation, thedistributor unlocking trip.

ltn the more complete embodiment of my invention as herein shown thereare" six principal elements or groups, viz, a hopper or blank supplyingmechanism for supplying and feeding the blanks one by one to the feelingor detecting mechanism, said feeling or detecting mechanism whichtransmits its de terminations to a distributor, a setter or settingmechanism which adjusts the distributor as well as the sk'iving means,the blank being passed along to an evening or skiving mechanism fromwhich it is taken by a delivering mechanism and delivered to thedistributor,

said distributor having meanwhile been adju sted and set by thedistributor adjusting andsetting mechanism. In carrying out my inventionl[ have availed myself of the principal parts of one type of the Nicholsevening and grading machine, although it will be understood that I amnot limited to this mechanism and that "for instance the evening featuremay be omitted and that my invention in its principal objects may becarried out in connection with various other grading mechanisms orevening and grading mecha nisms. I

. The feed roll 1 and chain 2, detector or feeler plate 3 (and adetector or feeler roll 4;

.in connection therewith to facilitate the movement of the blanks) abovewhich is a yoke 5 engaged adjacent its opposite ends by bell cranklevers 6 and 7 held under tension at their upper ends by an equalizerspring 8,'and said yoke carrying vertical feelers or feeler posts ordetectors 9 and 10 connected at 11 to arms 12 extending from a rockshaft- 13, may be and are in general type the same as in the NicholsPatent, 1,046,213, dated Dec. 3, 1912. The feeling or detecting andtransmitting and adjusting mechanisms of my present machine aresubstantially the same, at least in general type, as in said patent andaccordingly I have not undertaken herein to show all the detailsthereof. As herein shown a crank 14 is on the right hand end, Fig. 5, ofrock shaft 13 and connects pivotally at 15, Fig. 7 to a pivot-allymounted sector 16, having on its under side teeth 17 (corresponding tothe teeth 34 of said patent) and at its opposite end is provided with asegmental rack 19 l'ncshing with the pinion 20, whose shaft 21 carriesat its upper end a upward by springs to cooperate with the skiving orsplitting knife 31 (shown as the knife construction of Patent 1,205,10previously mentioned). The work travels over a bedv 32 beneath a shoe orpresser plate 33 pivotally supported yieldingly at 34; from a bracket35. The drive shaft 36, Fig. 2, drives a sprocket chain 37 and sprocketwheel 38 on whose shaft 39 is a pinion 40 meshing with a gear 41 whoseshaft 42 carries the sprocket wheel 43 Fig. 3 which drives the sprocketchain 2 which in turn drives the front feed roll l. The shaft 36 alsocarries a gear at in mesh with a pinion 45 which engages a gear 4E6 onthe near end, Figs. 1 and 2, of the upper out-feed roll or pressure roll28. On its farther end, Figs. 1 and 2, the main shaft 36 has a pinion 47which drives the gear 48 of the lower out-feed roll 29.

l have illustrated my invention in connection with the foregoingmechanism which is or may be in general type substantially the same asin the Nichols Patent No. 1,046,213 before mentioned, but it will beunderstood that although I have utilized much of this lll] oldmechanism, the relations and combinations in which it is used are newand enable me to produce the automatic feeding, gaging, eveningand'distributing as will be understood in the course of the followingdescription, and enable me to accomplish the final result with speed andaccuracy.

For convenience, and preferably, the feeding is accomplished from astack, the blanks 1-9 being herein shown as deposited between. astationary but adjustable front wall 50 and a fixed rear wall 51. 'llhelatter is shown in detail in Figs. 1, 2, 9 13. This wall 51 carrieslateral vertical guides 52 held in true vertical parallelism by lateralmembers 53 fitting transverse grooves 54: in the front of the upright51, and they are simultaneously moved toward 'or from each other by aright and left hand screw 55 mounted to turn in a fixed bracket 56 andcarrying opposite nuts reeaeae or arms 57 extending thereto from therespective guide uprights 52, so that when the guide screw 55 is turnedover to the left, Fig. 2 and Fig. 13, the guides 52 will be separated tofit wider stock thanpreviously might have been in the hopper. My machineis especially constructed to handle thin and difficult work. Onedifliculty with the previous machine (Patent No. 1,281,639) was that itmight feed two pieces of work at the same time, particularly such asthin top lifts, and accordingly to prevent this I have mounted on thelower end of the rear of the hopper blank retarders, one form beingshown in Figs. 9 and 1 and another form in Figs. 11 and 12. Referring toFigs. 9 and it will be seen that a bar 58 is mounted to move up and downin a way 59 provided at the rear of the wall 51, said bar being helddown yieldingly by a spring 60 and provided with a beveled foot 61 inposition to be engaged by the lower pieces of work, such as top lifts.Thus when a top lift is moved rearward in the machine by the feedingmechanism it moves against the foot 61 with only'slight resistance atthe very bottom edge of said foot but if a second or third topliftshould be accidentally moved along f'rictionally by and with thebottommost top lift said upper lifts will engage forcibly against theupper portion of the foot and will thereby be heldback as the only waythe said upper top lifts can get through is against the frictionalresistance of the foot 61 and the resistance of the spring 60. lhis formof re-tarder is especially adapted to very small and thin top lifts. Theform shown in Figs.

11 and 12 consists of two depending deflectors 62 pivoted at 63 in thelower ends of the guides 53. and normally held downward by springs 64but otherwise acting very much the same as the foot 61. Opposite thesedeflec tors or at the rear side of the front wall I cut away said wallto provide a beveled recess 65 which enables the lower top lifts to dropdown more readily to posit-ion for being fed into the machine when thereciprocating de vice returns after having fed forward the bottommostblank. If this wall were straight without said recess there would be africtional resistance which might result in the next blank remainingstuck or not dropping into feeding position. In Figs. 1 and 3.1 haveshown a feed hook orwork projector in the form of a hook 66 held underupward tendency by a spring 67 and pivoted at 68 to an adjustable plate69 engaged by a yielding stud 70 held in a carrier 71 at the upper endof a reciprocating post 7 2, said carrier being mounted to reciprocatein ways 73 in the top of the table 74 which carries the hopper and blankengaging mechanism thus far described. As my machine is especiallyarranged to handls very small pieces of stock such as small sizes ofheel lifts for instance,

it is necessary that the, reciprocator or work projector 66 shall movevery close to the rolls 1 and 4:, so that the bevel or inclination ofsaid projector between its pivotand the engaging shoulder or hook has tobe quite steep. In view of this fact, together withthe necessity forhandling curled and often very thin pieces of stock I have provided ateach side of the raceway 73 stationary inclines 7 5 which serve to holdthe rear edge of even badly curled pieces of stock in such a positionthat the hook is sure to engage said pieces sufficientlyto project them.In Figs. 1618 I have shown a form of projectorwhich can handle stillsmaller pieces of stock (because it can go closer to the feed anddetecting rolls). This form consists of a projector plate 76 having ashort bevel 77 and mounted on an adjacent plate 78 substantially thesame as plate 69. Preferably this plate 7 6 is roughened or knurled atits top 79 to aid in bringmg back the next or second toplift when thefirst has just been fed or projected. The proector 66 and connectedparts are actuated by a rotary shaft 80 whose crank 81 is connected by alink 82 to the reciprocating post 72. said rotary shaft being actuatedby a gear 83 on its outer end, see Figs. 1 and 2, meshing with an idler84 in engagement with a clutch gear 85 normally idle but actuated at theproper moment to engage a continuously rotating clutch part 86 fast onthe outer end of the gate proper), so that even the thinnest or mostrefractory stock is sure to get in place between the detector rolls.KVithout this feature such stock would be apt to turn up against thegate or wedge or crumple against the rolls, but by this provision thegate is raised "just before the blank reaches it and then the blank isfed onward into position beneath the then separated rolls whichimmediately come down on it in the performance of their feeler ordetecting operation and at the same time the gate or trip87 falls on thetop surface of the stock where it rests until the stock passes out fromunder it. The gate is lifted by a cam lever 88 whose free end 89 looselyengages the arm 90 of the gate, said cam lever being pivotally connectedat 91 to the under side of the table and having its cam portion inposition to be engaged by the swinging end 92 of the crank 81 fast onthe inner end of the shaft 80, see Figs. 2 and 19 as before described.The upper roll 4 is lifted by the engagement of a cam 93 mounted on theshaft 80, with a tripping shoulder 94 of a yoke 95, see Figs. 3, 5 and14, pivoted'to the frame at 96 and whose opposite ends 97 project underthe opposite ends of the upper roll 4 in position to lift said rollunder the actuation of the cam 93. The top lift or piece of stock iscarried along from the feeler or detecting mechanism by the chain 2 tothe outgoing rolls 28, 29 where it is evened by the skiving knife 31 inaccordance with the thinness measurement or detection to which saidrolls have been set, and the evened or skived blank is then instantlygrabbed by two dc livery rolls 98 and 99, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the formerbeing driven by a pinion 100, Fig) 2, and idler 101 which is in turndriven by the pinion 41.

These rolls 98, 99 have several important andstriking functions buttheir main purpose is to insure delivery of the blank and also to makesure of a quick delivery. The main purpose of anautomatic feeding anddistributing machine is to save labor, and therefore such a machine, tobe successful, must do the work till quicker than skilled hand labor.Hence the parts of my machine areso coordinated that they hurry theblank into the machine and hurry it out of the machine with no liabilityof the blanks sticking or pausing or being delayed at any point.Therefore the rolls 98, 99 are providedto seize the blank and propel itrapidly forward into a chute 102 provided for it for distributing thesuccessive blanks to different receptacles according to their grade. Asecond function of these rolls which also conduces to speed is due tothe arrangement by means of which they positively and instantly startthe blank feeding mechanism and means'for raising the gate andseparating the ingoing rolls the instant that the outgoing blank hasproceeded far enough to be sure of being distributed before the chute102 changes to the next position. As herein shown this is accomplishedby providing a cam 103, see Fig. 3, on or as apart of the roll 99toengage an arm 104 on. a rock shaft 105 provided at its outer end, Fig.2, with a rocker arm 106 connected by a link 107 to a trigger oractuator 108 pivoted at 109 on an adjacent stationary part of themachine and depending to engage and actuate the free end 110 of a camcarrier bar 111 pivoted at 112 to the frameof themachine whose cam orcam plate 113 is best shown in Fig. 1 in position to engage a pin 114projecting into its path from the loose clutch member 85, and springs115, 116 being preferably 7 provided to insure quick and spondingsubstantially to the finger 46 or to proper positioningof the parts.Thus as soon as the roll 99 has rotated sufficiently in its work ofdelivering or ejecting the skived blank to swing the arm 104 rearwardthe clutch is thereby connected so as instantly to start the feeding ofthe next blank and the raising ofthe gate 87 and the separation of therolls 1, 4'to receive said blank. In view of the difference in lengthsof difi"ere'nt blanks tripping of the clutch. The roll 98 is positivelydriven but as herein shown the roll 99 is'driven by the engagementtherewith of the stock, and is returned to its original position by aspring 120 wound around itsfarther end, Fig. 1, and secured at one endto the bracket or journal and at the other end to the roll; To insurethat the rolls98, 99 shall invariably grip the work, and bearing in mindthat sometimes the front edge of a piece'of stock may be slightlythinner than the body of the stock,

I have mounted the roll 99 for movement slightly independent of theoutgoing pressure gage roll 28. To this end the journal box 121 of theroll99, see Fig. 3, is mounted for vertical adjustment on the box 27, ofthe roll 28, being carried in a raceway 122 therein and provided with astud 123 extending up from the box 121(and limited by a nut 124 in itsdownward movement and held. against said,

nut yieldingly by a spring 125 within the raceway. This gives a capacityfor regulating'the tension of the roll 99 and permitting it to benormally slightly nearer the roll 98 than the adjustment of the roll 28from the skiving knife 31. This construction also gives-acapacity forcompressing the stock when desirable for certain qualitiesof blanks. IThe gate loo constitutes governing means to control the I admission ofblanks to the grade detector means and is itself under the control ofthe above described actuating means.

ll will now describe the mechanism which adjusts and sets the blankdistributor. Pivoted at 126 on the gate is a depending link.

127 best shown in Figs. 3 and 15. This link 127 is pivotally connectedat 128 to the free end of a bell crank 129 Whose lower end 130 engages apin 131, see Fig. 7, of the detent detecting rolls and the latter begintheir 132 to hold the same back to the right, Figs.

feeling or thinness-detecting operation the front edge of the blankstrikes the upper end of a trip 134, see Figs. 3 and 15 (and come theroll trip 43 of Patent 1,046,213), carried by shaft 135 and normallyheld towards said rolls by a spring 136, said shaft having an arm 137connected by a link 138 to lift a depressing arm 139 which is pivoted at140 to the frame of the machine and normally depresses or holds out ofengagement with the teeth 17 the pawl 141, see Fig. 6, said pawl liebeing normally under tendency to move upward by a spring 142. As thework is .fed

, been moved to the right Fig. 6 or leftor clockwise Fig. 7 prior tothis time when the rolls 1 and 4 were separated) and the successiveincrements of. thinness measurement are'preserved by the engagement ofthe pawl 141 with the teeth 17. Rigid with the sectors16 and 19 is anarm 143 bifurcated at its free end 144, Fig. 3, to embrace a sleeve 145and provided with a vertical pin 146 passing through the upper and lowerslots 147 in said sleeve. This sleeve at its left has a ratchet 148. Arod '149 reciprocates in said sleeve and is provided on its under sidewith a notched lock-plate 150, see also Fig. 8, whose righthand end,Fig. 3, constitutes a stop to abut against'said sleeve 1 45, and at itsrear end said rod 149 has a rack 151 in engagementwith a pinion 152 faston a post 153 to whose upper end is secured (preferably removably) thechute 102. The pinion 152 and shaft 153 are carried by a housing andbracket- 1-54, see Figs; 2, 3 and 7. A relatively light spring 155 isfastened at one end to a stud 156 on this bracket and at its oppositeend to a pin 157 projecting from the rack bar 140. A relatively heavy.spring 158 is secured atone end to said pin 157 and at its opposite endto a pin 159 on the sleeve 145. Cooperating with the lock-plate 150 is adog 160mounted on a rod 161 and under normal upward impulse by a spring162, said rod being given vertical movement by a 'trip bar 4 orunlocking shoe 163, see Figs. 1, 3, 4 and/ 20, said shoe being mountedat its pivotal end' on any convenient member herein shown as looselymountedon the shaft 135. On the rod 161 is secured a block 164 and herealso is preferably a spring 165 for giving further upward impulse ortendency to the rod and all connected parts. said block 164 beingengaged on its upper side by the upper end of a hook 166secured at itslower end to a dog or latch 167 in position to engage the ratchet 148.Thus while the top lift or piece of work is being felt of and itsdeterminations transmitted to the sector 16 and adjacent settingmechanism and therefrom to the rack and wedge bar 23, 25, the pin 146 ofthe arm 143 is being simultaneously and similarly adjusted andvhen'finally the gate 87'falls and brings the feelertransmission to ahalt by 1 locking said sector by means of its detent 132, said pin 146likewise comes to a halt, thereby preserving the same finalthinnessmeasurement that corresponds to the adjustment of the sector 16.As the latch 16 7 has been in a raised position out of engagementf withthe ratchet 148 during this adjustment ,ess 57 of said pin 146 itfollows that the sleeve 145 has been free to be moved by said pin incase the position in which it was left when the preceding blank wasbeing detected requires said movement. Usually this is the case. Thespring 158 always holds the sleeve as far as it can to the left, Figs.3, 7, and 8. All the adj ustment just secured takes place withoutdisturbing the chute 102. When roll 4 is raised, sector 16 is therebyusually swung forward or around to the left, clockwise, Fig. 7, theextent depending upon the grade of blank to which the parts werepreviously set. As previously set, the sleeve 145 is against the stop orrighthand end Fig. 3 of lock-plate 150 and the pin 146 is against therighthand end of slot 147. If chute 102 is then at the near side Fig. 1to deliver a blank into the receptacle 168 for the thinnest blank beinghandled, say 3-iron, and the succeeding blank proves to be a 3-ironblank the parts will remain unchanged, excepting that thepin 146 willmove out to the left in the slot as the roll 4 is raised and will thengo back again to its original position. But if the succeeding blankproves to be a thicker blank,say 4-iron, 5-iron, or 6-iron (the lattercalling for a final positioning of the chute 102 as shown in thedrawings) the arm 143 and its pin 146 will be adjusted in the slot 147to the left Figs. 3 and 7, and then whenjthe detent 160 is unlocked fromthe lock-plate 150 the spring 155 will pull the parts to the left untilthe righthand end of slot 147 strikes against the pin 146 and is stoppedthereby. If however the chute 102 is not set for a thin blank but is setfor athick blank, say 9-iron, to, deliver into the receptacle 168 at theextreme rear of Fig. 1, and the neXt blank being detected proves to be athinner blank, say 6, 7, or 8-iron, the adjusting movement of the arm143 and pin 146 in response to the detection of the feeler mechanismWlllbt. to the right Figs. 3 and 7 thereby separating the sleeve fromits stop, the pin 146 maintaining continuous engagement withtlierighthand end of slot 147 and when the detection of said succeedingblankis completed and the arm 143 locked inits adj ustment, theunlocking of the detent 160 permits the heavy spring 158 instantly tobring together the sleeve against the stop 150 thereby pulling aroundto' the right the parts 149,

152', 153 and 102 and against the resistance I of spring 155. In allcases when the preceding blank has been delivered by. the chute to thereceptacle for which the. chute was set, the lock-plate i's disengagedand there upon the sleeve and stop or righthand end of said lock-plateare brought together by the spring 158,.if not already together, and allthe connected parts are'moved so far as may be required by the newadjustment of the setting mechanism due to the succeeding blank whichhas meanwhile been felt of, said movement being accomplished by eitherthe spring i 158 of the spring 155 as just explained, leav-- ing theparts with the pin 146 hard .against the righthand endof the slot 147and the sleeve and stop together. The rod' 149 is then .locked and soremains until the said next blank for which it has just been set haspassed through the evening mechanism and been delivered into its properreceptacle 168. In other words the mechanism is so arrangedthat saidchute is left undisturbed and locked as long as possible so as to besure to receive and distribute the blank discharged from the rolls 98,99 before the adjusting operation begins on said chute for the nextblank. This constructio therefore, tends to increase the speed that ispossible in handling blanks. In other words the succeeding blank isbeing fed into the machine'afid its thinness determined and saiddeterminations transmitted and the.

' and distribution of the blank by the chute,

the succeeding blank, comes into contact with the unlocking shoe 163which through the parts 161 and 160 unlocks the lock-plate 150,whereupon the spring 155 instantly ac- ;tuates said rack bar and causesthe same to rock or rotate the chute in accordance with the position ofthe pin 146. At the same moment that the dog .160 was moved to unlocksaid rack bar, the latch 167 i was caused to holdthe sleevel againstmovement to the right, although it may move to the left by either thespring. 155 or spring 158' as may be required to bring the righthand'end of the. slot 147 against the pin 146 now stationary in its newadjustment so that by the time the chute 102 has swung to its newposition under the influence of one or theother of said springs theparts are practically locked so as to resist the rebound of said chuteand holdthe same steady in the new adjustment. As soon as the blankwhich has caused this op eration by depressing the shoe 163. passes ifrom said shoe between the rolls 28, 29, the

shoe springsup and thereby causes the detent 160 to lock into thelock-plate 150 and thereby hold the chute 102 immovable in its newadjustment while at the same time releasin the sleeve 145 and, righthand end of I the setting'onadjusting mechanism of the distributor sothat said mechanism is now free to be adjusted and set again by the nextblank to be fed. The feeding. of said next blank takes plate at aboutthe same instant under the tripping action resultingfrom the cain 103 ofthe roll 99 acting through the parts which connect therefrom to thefeeding mechanism at thefront of the machine. In the Nichols machinesthe mechanism was required to move back to a given starting point alwaysfrom whatever adjusted position to which it might previously have beenset, whereas here the movement is minimized and is usually simply fromone receptacle 168 to the next selected one, and the chute and connectedparts do not always have to move back to the front position Fig. 1, andthence swing around each time through a relatively large circuit. Inother words, I have provided mechanism which goes from one adjustment tothe next and does not, have to swingback to a given starting point andthen swing from that starting point through the whole range to the nextadjustment. This tends materially to aid in increasing the speed oroutput of the machine. Thus the chute 102 delivers the blank into theselected receptacle 168, Fig. 1, and as the blanks are ejectedpositively I provide a guard or deflector 169 to prevent, their jumpingbeyond or away from the chute. In some cases, as for chrome leather, itis sometimes deslrable that the roll 99 be heated, as by a gas jet 170,Fig.

In operat I per is filled with top lifts 49, it will be seen I thatthebotto'm lift will be held at its opposite sides or edges slightlyraised at its rear by the stubby 'inclines75 and the rear ends of 7 thislift and adjacent lift-s will be out of fricion, let it be supposed thatthe hoptional engagement with the front wall 50 i because of the recess65, so that theprojector hook 66 or plate 76 will be sure to engageposii tively the rear end of thesmall, thin top lift sas it reciprocatesforward under the action of its slide 71 and the connected parts 72,82,

80, 83, 84, etc.. Just as the forward end ofthis top lift nearly reachesthe gate 87 the same rotary movement ofthe shaft 80 which moves theblank projector causes the arm 81 to engage the cam 88, Fig. 2 andFig.19, and thereby lift the gate out of the path of the inwardly movingblank. Likewise the top roll 4 is moved upwardly out of the way of theblank, this movement being accomplished through the rotation of the sameshaft 80 and theaction of its cam 93, see Fig. 14, on the parts 94, 95,97, and-as soon as the leading end of the blank'gets just between therolls' 1, 4 the roll4 closes down tight upon it in feelingposition,whereupon, the trip 134 having been actuated, the feeling ordetecting oplltl erat-ion takes place as in Patent No. 1,046,213,

and is transmitted to the central adjusting or setting mechanism 16,.17, 19, and 141 by the connections 10,11,12, 13, 14, 15, Figs. 1, 3, 6,7,

and as the blank moves from under the gate 87 the latter drops andthrough the parts 127,

129, 131, 132,and 18, looks the said portion of the setting mechanism inits then adj ustment. This adjusting and setting mechanism has set thecam stops 25 thereby controlling mosses the gage roll 28 and hence thesplitting operation and has also by reason of the rigid arm 143adjustedthepin 146 (and usually the sleeve 145) into proper position forthe sub sequent movement of the distributing chute 102 in accordancewith the position of adjust ment of the gage mechanism as thusdetermined by the feeling or detecting operation on the blank. Asthe-rolls 1 and 4 and the chain 2 feed the blank onward the front end ofthe blank engages the unlocking shoe163, Figs. 1, 8 and 20, therebydepressing said shoe and through the parts 161, 164, 166, 167, and 148unlocking the rack bar 149 (by the disengagement of its lock-plate 150and dog 1.60) anduengaging the sleeve 145 so that the spring 155instantly swings the chute 102 around to the blank delivering positionwhich corresponds to the thinness determination and setting of the partsthus far explained. The tendency to rebound is prevented by the spring158 and the ratchet members 148, 167.

As the blank continues onward it is engaged between the rolls 28, 29 andskived by the knife 31 being then grabbed by the positively driven roll98 and the frictionally driven roll '99 and forcibly and positivelyejected into the chute 102 to fall into the proper can, bag,

orother receptacle 168. While the blank is being ejected the next blankis being fed in and while the first blank is falling and getting intoits receptacle tlie'fed in blank is being detected and the detectionsare being transmitted to the setting mechanism, so that the latter hasadjusted the right hand end of the adjusting and controlling mechanismof the distributor by the time it is practicable to adjust thedistributor, and then this right hand end of the mechanism which hasjust been adjusted'is locked and the lefthand end thereof unlocked sothat the two can be brought into complete adjustment'by means of thesprings 155, 158 and connections. In other words the parts are socoordinated that a maximum economy of time is made possible andtherefore a hi gh rate of speed in handling the small pieces of stockresults. As the frictionally driven roll 99 is rotated by engagementwith the blank being ejected its cam 103 Figs. 1-3, isthereby turned toswing the arm 104 outward and thereby through the connections 105, 106,107, 108. 111, 113, and 114 release the movable clutch member 85, Figs.1 and 5, to engage the constantly rotating member 86 and thereby throughthe parts 84, 85,

81, 82, 72, etc., start the blank feeding mechanism to repeat the cycleof movements already described.

While I have shown my invention applied to a machine especially designedfor handling small pieces such as top lifts, heel lifts, taps. halfsoles and the like, it. is not limited thereto as it will be understoodthat it may readily be changed in dimensions to accommodate soles andother relatively long and large died-out pieces. Also I wish itunderstood that many of the separate mechanisms and varioussub-combinations and rearrange ments of parts as pointed out in theclaims are separately Within the spirit and scope of my invention andthat I am not limited otherwise than defined in the following claims.

My invention is accordingly further described and defined in the form ofclaims as follows:

1. A machine of the kind described, having means for gaging successiveblanks according to their thickness, combined with automaticdistributing mechanism for distributing said blanks as gaged, andejecting rolls for receiving and embracing said blanks from the gagingmeans and positively grasping and feeding them to the distributingmechanism and deflecting means positioned to insure the ejected blanksarriving properly in said distributing mechanism:-

2. A machine of the kind described, hav ing detector means for detectingthe grade of successive blanks, an adjustable chute to distribute saidblanks in accordance with said detector means, and setting mechanismcontrolled by said detector means and controlling said chute andconstructed and arranged to adjust said chute in accordance with thedetected grade of one blank while receiving the detected grade of asucceeding blank from said detector means before said other blank hasleft said chute.

3. A machine of the kind described, having means for detecting the gradeof successive blanks, an adjustable chute to-distribute said blanks inaccordance with said detecting means, and setting mechanism controlledby said detecting means and controlling said other portion but timedtoact dissimultane ously, and locking devices actuated to lock saidrespective portions alternately.

5. A machine of the kind described, having means for detectingsuccessive blanks according to their thickness, combined with mechanismadjustable through a given range of irons for operating with referenceto the detected blanks according to their irons as determined by saiddetecting means, means for holding said mechanism adjusted for any giveniron during the operation thereof with reference to a blank of saidgiven iron, and 'an adjusting portion adjustable by said de' tectingmeans to any given iron ascertained lun Hit

. by said detecting means irrespective of the particular iron to whichsaid adjustable opcrating mechanism may be held at the time.

' ate on said series of blanks in accordance with their detected gradesrespectively, and adjusting mechanism for controlling said operatingmechanisms including means for releasing the latter dissimultaneously.

7. A machine of the kind described, having, in combination,- automaticmeans for detecting the grade of each of a series of blanks, a pluralityof blank-operating meclranisms to operate on said series of blanks inaccordance with their detected gradesrespcctively, and adjustingmechanism for controlling said operating mechanisms includinglocking'inechanism to lock the latter dissimultaneously in theiradjustments.

8. A machine of the kind described, having'means for gagingsuccessiveblanks according to their thickness, combined with automaticdistributing mechanism for distributing said blanks as gaged, andincluding a blank delivering member which is stationary while handlingablank, means for adjusting a portion of said distributing mechanism inaccordance with the gag ng'of a succeeding blank before the precedingblank has been 'fully distributed by said blank delivering member, andmeans for bringing said blank delivering member'into accord with saidadjusted portion after said blank has been delivered by said deliveringmember and before the latter receives the next blank.

9. A machine of'the kind described, hav-g ing means for gagingsuccessive blanks: according to their th1ckness,comb1ned with automaticdistributing mechanism fordistributing said blanks as gaged, andincluding a blank delivering member which is stationary while handling ablank, means for so looking said' member stationary during its blankhandling and delivery, and means for adjusting a portion of saiddistributin mechanism in accordance with the gagingo a succeeding blankbefore the preceding blank has beenfull distributed by said blankdelivering mein er.

10. A machine of the kind described, having means for gaging successiveblanks according totheir thickness, combined withautomatic distributingmechanism for t-ributi'ng said blanks as gaged, and including a blankdelivering member which is staitioiiary while handling a blank, meansfor adjusting a portion of said distributing mechanism in accordancewith the gaging of a succeeding blank beforethe preceding blank hasbeen; fully distributed by said blank delivering member, and means forreeacse accord with said adjusted portion after said blank has beendelivered by said blank delivering member and before the latter re-'ceives the next blank and means for locking said adjusted portion duringsaid bringing .into accord of said member;

11. A machine of the kind described, having means for gaging successiveblanks according to their thickness, a blank delivering memberadjustable to deliver the gaged ing means for gaging successive blanksac cording to their thickness, combined with a blank delivering memberto distribute the blanks as gaged, controlling means to set said memberto position for so distributing a blank, and adjusting mechanismforadjusting said controlling means according to the gage of successiveblanks, said controlling means being operable by said adjustingmechbringing said blank delivering member into anism while thedelivering member is deliv-- ering ablank. I

13. llna machine ofthe kind described, blank distributing mechanismconsisting of two portions, viz. a delivering member and an adjustingportion, separately adjusted, a spring connecting said two portions, andlocking means arranged to hold said delivering member during the blankdelivering operation of the latter and thereafter to release saidmemberand permit said spring to move said member in accordance with saidadjusting port-ion.

14. Ina 'machine of the kind described,

blank distributing mechanism consisting of .to move said member inaccordance with said adjusting portion, and a'second spring connectc-dto said blank distributing mechanism for moving said-delivering memberto final adjusted position.

15. In ainachine ofthe kind described, blank distributing mechanismconsisting of a delivering member and an adjusting portion lie the blankdelivering relatively movable, a spring forconnecting said member andportion, a pawhand ratchet for preventing the separation of said memberand portion, a lockingdevice for holding said member immovable,adjusting means for adjusting said portion while said member is heldimmovable, and mechanism for holding said portion by the engagement ofits pawl and ratchet and for unlocking said member to permit itsadjustment by said adjusting portion.

16. In a machine of the 'kind described, blank distributing mechanismconsisting 0-1" a delivering member and an adjusting portion relativelymovable, a spring for connecting said member and portion, a pawl andratchet for preventing the separation 01 said member and portion,a-locking devicefor holding said member immovable, adjusting means foradjusting said portion While said member is held immovable, andmechanism for holding said portion by the engagement of its pawl andratchet and for unlocking said member to permit its adjustment by saidadjusting portion, and a second spring for shitting said member inaccordance with its said adjustment.

17. A machine of the kind described, having means for gaging successiveblanks according to their thickness, combined with automaticdistributing mechanism for distributing said blanks, said distributingmechanism including an adjustable adjusting portion responsive to saidgaging means for its adjustment, and a delivering member subject to thecontrol of said adjusting portion but independent of said control duringthe blank delivering operation of said member, said adjusting portionbeing constructed to permit its complete adjustment in response to saidgaging means irrespective of the positionof said delivering member atthe time.

i 18. A machine of the kind described, having means for gagingsuccessive blanks ac cording to their thickness, combined with adelivering member movable through a given range of irons fordistributing the gag-ed blanks according to their irons as determined bysaid gaging means, means 'for locking said member for any given ironduring the delivery thereby of a blank of said given iron, and anadjusting portion adjustable by said gaging means to any given ironascertained by said gaging means irrespective of the particular iron towhich said delivering member may be locked at the time.

19. A machine of the kind described, having means for gaging successiveblanks according to their thickness, combined with automaticdistributing mechanism for distributing said blanks as gaged. a gatecontrolled by the position of a blank for locking said gaging meansagainst further gaging adjust ment, and independent tripping means alsocontrolled bythe position of a blank l or locking and unlocking saiddistributing mechanism. V

20. In a machine of the kind described, de-

llll

point.

'21. In a machine of the kind described, a gate and feeding-in devicesat the front of the machine, including feeler mechanism adapted toreceive and feed the stock to graded and to detect by continuous act thethinnest spot among a plurality of spots of varying thickness in aleather piece, responsive means for usefully perpetuating or utilizingsaid grade detection, and intermediate setting mechanism for settingsaid responsive means in response to said i'eeler mechanism. andincluding meanspermittingthe restoration of the gate-and feedingdndevices to normal position for receiving a succeedingpiece While saidresponsive means remains set in accordancewith the grade detection ofthe preceding piece.

22. in a machine of the kind described, a gate and feeding in devices atthei ront ot the machine, including feeler mechanism adapted to receiveand i'eedthe stock to be gradet and to detect by continuous act thethinnest spot among aplurality of spots of \arying thickness in aleather piece, responsive means for 'usefully perpetuating or utilizingsaid grade detection, and intermediate setting mechanism for settingsaid responsive means in response tosaid feeler mechanisn'i. andincluding means permitting the restoration of the gate and feeding-indevices to normal position for receiving a succeeding piece while atleast a portion of said setting mech anism remains set in accordancewith the grade detection forthe preceding piece.

23. In a machine of the kind described, a gate and feeding-in devices atthe front of the machine including feeler mechanism adapted 'to receiveand feed the stock to be graded and to detect by continuous act thethinnest spot among a plurality of spots of varying thickness in aleather piece, means responsive to said feeler mechanism for utilizingsaid grade detection, and connecting mechanism permitting therestoration of the gate and feeding-in devices to normal position forreceiving another piece While said responsive means remains set inaccordance with the grade detection of the preceding piece, andincluding means for releasing said utilizing means from its said setposition separately from the restoration of the feeding-in devices.

24. In a machine of the kind described, detecting mechanism. including apair of rolls of said rolls responding to the unevennesses of stock andconstituting a feeler roll, said roll having a small diameter withrelation to :the other roll, a yoke embracing said small roll-from endto end of the latter, means connected with said yoke for transmittingthe detecting movements of the small roll, and a litter engaging beneaththe ends of said small roll in opposition to said yoke for lifting saidsmall roll and yoke and thereby separating said rolls.

26. A blank sorting machine having, in combination means for measuring ablank, and spring-actuated means automatically responsive to saidmeasuring means for causing the-blank to be delivered in accordance withits measurement.

27. A blank sortingmachine having, in combination, means for measuring ablank, an ad ustable spring-actuated discharge chute adapted to occupy aplurality of operative positions and automatically responsive to themeasurements of said measuring means, and

.1 means for locking said discharge chute 1n its adjusted position untilthe blank for which it is adjustedhas been delivered.

,28. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa blank, means for subsequently discharging the blank, an adjustablechute for directing its discharge, means for moving the blank from themeasuring to the discharging station, automatic means selectivelyresponsive to said measuring means and operative during the movement ofthe blank from the measuring to the discharging station for adjustingsaid chute in accordance With the measurement of theblank, and means forlocking the chute in its adjusted position until the blank has beendischarged.

29. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa blank, an adjustable chute for directing its discharge, means forlocking the chute in position temporarily, means responsive to themeasurements of said measuring means for storing power while the chuteis locked to be subsequently utilized when the chute is unlockedtoadjust the chute to its proper delivery position, and meansfornnlocking the chute to permit its adjustment.

30. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa blank, an adjustable chute adapted to occupy a plurality oft operatingpositions for directing its cupy a plurality of operating positions fordirecting its discharge, means responsive to said measuring means forselectively either moving said chute from Whatever delivery position itoccupies to another delivery posi tion or permitting it to remain in itsoccupied position, according as the measurement of the blank differsfrom or conforms to the measurement for which the chute is alreadypositioned. f

32. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa blank, an adjustable chute for directing its dis charge, meansactuated to a definite position dependent upon the measurement of theblank by said measuring mechanism, and delayed means interposed betweensaid last means and said chute for subsequently actuating said chuteinto a corresponding posi tion for delivering the blank.

33. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa dimen sion of a blank, means forsubsequently dis; charging the blank,an adjustable chute for directing its discharge, means for advancing theblank after being measured, and automatic means responsive to saidmeasuring means and operative on the advance of the blank through themachine after having been measured, for adjusting said chute inaccordance with said measured dimension.

3 1. A 'blank sorting machine having, in combination, means formeasuring a dimention of a blank, means for subsequently discharging theblank,an adjustable chute for directing its] discharge, means foradvancing the blank after being measured, automatic.

means responsive to said measuring means and operative on the advance ofthe blank llflit through the machine after having been meas ured, foradjusting said chute in accordance with said measured dimension, andmeans for thereafter locking the chute in its adjusted position. I

35. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, thickness detectingmechanism, blank discharging mechanism, means for susllltt tainingblanks and feeding them to said dis charging mechanism, an adjustablechute cooperating with said discharging mechanism movable to guide theblank in a plurality of of directions but initially locked againstmovement, automatic chute actuating means, a-controlling device set inresponse to said thickness detecting mechanism for determining theextent and direction of movement of neeacas said actuating means, meansfor unlocking the chute after said device has been set to permit anadjustment of the chute as thus determined, and means for re-locking thechute before the measured blank is discharged.

36. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, blank dischargingmechanism, means for sustaining and feeding blanks successively to saiddischarging mechanism, thickness detec ing mechanism, an adjustabledistributor opposite said discharging mechanism, a movable distributorcontroL ling device the position of which determines the adjustment ofthe distributor and the actuation of which is responsive to thethickness detecting mechanism, means for locking the distributor againstmovement after it has been set and until the blank for which it has beenset is discharged, and means for unlocking the distributor only afterthe controlling device has been re-positioned in response to thedetected thickness of the succeeding blank.

37. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, a thicknessdetecting station; a blank discharging station at a point in the machineremoved from said thickness detecting station; means for sustaining andfeeding at least two blanks between said stations, one blank after theother; an adjustable distributing chute at the discharging station;chute controlling mechanism at the thickness detecting stationresponsive to the detected thickness of the first blank passingtherethrough for determining the position of said chute; means forlocking the chute in its adjusted position before said first blank isdischarged and subsequently restoring said chute controlling mechanismto its normal position whereby it may respond to the detected thicknessof the succeeding blank; and. means for unlocking the chute after eachsetting of said controlling mechanism.

38. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa blank, means adapted to occupy a plurality of operating positions fordirecting its discharge, and normally i'dle actuating means set inresponse to the measuring means for subsequently positioning saiddirecting means to deliver the blank in accordance with its measurement.

39. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa blank, an adjustable chute for directing its discharge, a plurality ofsprings for actuating said chute in one direction or the other, andautomatic means responsive to said measuring means for adjusting one ofsaid springs to cause the chute to be adjusted to deliver the blankaccording to its measurement.

40. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa blank, an adjustable chute'adapted to occupy a plurality of operatingpositions for directing its discharge, spring actuated mechanism c0-operating with said chute, and automatic means responsive to saidmeasuring means for causing said mechanism to actuate said chute into aposition corresponding to the measurement of the blank.

41. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa blank, a pivotally mounted chute adapted to occupy a plurality ofoperating positions for directing its discharge, means responsive tosaid measuring means and comprising springs for adjusting the positionof said chute in accordance with the measurement of the blank, and meansfor locking the chute in its adjusted position.

42. A blank sorting machine having, in combination, means for measuringa blank, an adjustable chute adapted to occupy a plurality of operatingpositions for directing its discharge, spring actuated mechanism foradjusting the chute, means for locking the chute in adjusted position,means responsive to said measuring means for varying the power conditionof one of said springs while the chute is locked, and means forreleasing said locking means to permit such spring to actuate said chuteinto a delivery position corresponding to the measurement of the blank.

43. lln a machine of the kind described, in

combination, automatic detecting means for detecting the rade of each ofa series of blanks, a plurality of grading mechanisms operative withrelation to said series of blanks in accordance with their detectedgrades re spectively, and adjusting mechanism for controlling saidgrading mechanisms including means for adjusting and locking one of saidgrading mechanisms and then adjusting another of said gradingmechanisms.

44. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, mechanisms forsplitting and sorting a series of blanks, and automatic mechanismcontrolled by each blank presented to the machine for dissimultaneouslygoverning. and locking the said splitting and sorting mechanisms.

45. In a machine of the kind described, two I graders, of which one isan automatic distributing mechanism, both actuated in accordance withthe thickness of each blank, said distributing mechanism including amovable blank distributing chute automatlcally rotatable to difierentpredetermined delivering positions, together with means to temporarilylock said chute in moved position, means to temporarily lock said othergrader during its grading, and means for sett ng said other grader anddistributing mechanism including means for actuatlng sald locks tolochng position dissimultaneously.

46. In a machine of the kind described, two graders, one of whichincludes a pair of feed rolls and the other of which includes an adlUlEjustable distributor chute, both graders being actuated in accordancewith the thickness of eachblank, and a pair of delivering rolls adaptedto receive a blank from said teed rolls a and deliver it to thedistributor chute.

- ing means for gaging successive blanks according to their thickness, ablank distributor responsive to the gaging means, agate for cont-rollingthe operation of the gaging means and a trip and connections therefromto the ate adapted to be actuated by a blank be ore it leaves thedistributor for controlling the gate.

49. A machine of the kind described, having means for gaging successiveblanks according to their thickness, including upper and lower membersadapted to receive the blanks between them for detecting theirthicknesses, a blank distributor responsive to the gaging means, and atrip and connections therefrom to the gaging means adapted to be vPatent hie; iaaaaaa.

" ceartricarefoai eaaeiena resecae actuated-by a blankbetore it leavesthe dis- 30 cording to their thickness, grading mechaas nism responsiveto said gaging means, and means adapted to be actuated by a blank forstarting the gaging means.

v51. A machine or the kind described, hav- 7 mg means fol-gagingsuccessive blanks acac cording to their thlClUlGSS, grading mechanismresponsive to said gaging means, a gate for controlling the operation ofthe gaging means, and means adapted to be actuated by a blank after ithas left the gaging means for controlling the gate.

52. A machine of the kind described, having means for gaging successiveblanks according to their thickness including upper and lower membersadapted to receive blanks 5!? between them for detecting theirthicknesses,

grading mechanism responsive to said gaging means, and means adaptedtobe actuated by ablank, after it has left the gaging means forseparating said members to receive a blank. 55

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LEANDER A. COGSWELL Granted eeember 4, N28, to

I thhhhhlt a. cocswett.

lit is herehy eertitied that error appears in the artated saeeitieatiahat the ahave aarahered patent reauiriag eerreetioa as tollllovva: PageLit, Maefihelaim 5h, Latter the Word "htaah" ia'aert the Wards "atter ithas tett the gaging theatre"; and that the saiellLetters Patentsheiillel. he read with this correction thereiia the aerate mayterritories to the retard at the-case in the rt ateat- @t'ttce. I Iilhhea'l aati seated this 8th day at January, A. 1 H 929 I at a Metre (Shitting Geaaafissfiener at Patents

